Apparatus for feeding receptacle closure caps



Oct. 18 1938. .1. A. JOHNSON APPARATUS FOR FEEDING RECEPTACLE CLOSURECAPS 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. J. E. JUH/VEU/V Filed Dec. 9, 1936 Oct.18, 1938. J JOHNSON 2,133,353

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING RECEPTACLE CLOSURE CAPS Filed Dec. 9, 1936 2Sheets-Sheet 2 *3 9 I 7 INVENTOR.

J. 5. JJH/VE UN Patented Oct. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FORFEEDING BECEPTACLE.

CLOSURE CAPS John A. .lohnaon, Woodhaven, N. Y. Application December a,1m, semi No. 114,950

19 Claims.

' This invention relates to apparatus {or feeding closure'caps inpredetermined position to apparatus for assembling liners or sealingpads in the closure caps or to apparatus for applying 5 the closure capsto receptacles, and particularly to apparatus for feeding closure capshaving flared corrugations about the margin of the skirt to yieldinglyengage an annular enlargement atthe mouth of the receptacle and whichclosure caps are commonly termed crown'capsfl',

It is the principal object of the invention to materially increase thevnumber of closure caps that are fedin apredetermined period of time bythe present type of'lapparatus now in com- 1 erating the apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to overcome thedisadvantage of the present method of supporting the drum by supportingthe drum about its periphery and connecting the source of power to theperiphery of the drum.

It is a further object of the invention to provide novel and inexpensivemeans for operatively connecting the drum to a rotatable disk forming anoutlet passage with the drum.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a closure capdischarge chute adapted to deliver predeterminedly positioned closurecaps simultaneously to diil'erent apparatus for either assemblingsealing pads therein or applying the closure caps to receptacles.

It is still a further object of the invention to actuate all of theoperating parts of the apparatus from the same source of power.

The embodiment of the invention comprises a hopper casing having adischarge opening for supplying closure caps to a drum rotatablysupported at the periphery with one end in communication with thedischarge opening and the opposite end closed by a disk rotatablyandpivotally supported in spaced relation with the drum by an annularmemberencircling the drum and disk and forming with the disk an annularchannel for receiving sidwardly extending closure caps from the drumhaving a discharge opening communicating with a vertical channel leadingto a dischargechute and having an endless conveyer at the opposite sidesthereof extending in a converging path from the discharge opening of'the annular channel-to 5 the inlet of the chute. The periphery of thedrum is operatively connected to a source of power which is alsoconnected to the endless conveyers whereby the drum and conveyers aresimultaneouslyactuated by the same source of 10 power, and the drum anddisk are'arranged with co-operating means which will connect thedisk tothe drum whenthe disk is pivoted in position adjacent to and in spacedrelation with the I drum and transmit rotation of the drum to the 15disk. The source of power is connected to the conveyersin such a mannerto actuate one conveyer in a direction away from the discharge openingof the annular channel .to urge the closure caps toward the inlet of thechute and go actuate the other conveyer in a direction toward thedischarge opening of, the annular channel I to retard the travel ofclosure caps toward the chute inlet and prevent jamming of the closurecaps .at said chute inlet. The chute is arranged 25 with a central ridgein the opposite sides thereof to engage the flared skirts of the closurecaps and direct predeterminedly positioned closure caps to predetermineddiverging outlet/portions of the chute to deliver the closure caps todiifer- 3 0 ent apparatus for either assembling sealing pads in theclosure caps or applying the closure caps to receptacles.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application,Figure 1 is a front ele- 35 vational view of the apparatus forming theem bodiment of the invention.

Figure. 2 is a longitudinalsectional view of the apparatus taken on theline 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view 01' the drum, disk and the co-operatingmeans for connecting the disk to the drum. I

In carrying out the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings,there is provided a pair of standards 4, 5, the standard 4 having ahorizontal. base .portion 6 adapted to be mounted on a pedestal I .withthe forward edge abutting the inner opposed face of the standard 5, andthe standards are secured to each other by bolts 8 engaged in the baseportion 6 and the standard 5, as shown in Figure 2. The standard 4 isarranged at the upper end with. an annular portion or member 9 adaptedto support a hopper casing in having an opening II at the upper portionthereof through which closure caps C are delivered to the hopper and anarcuate bottom, as indicated at I2 in Figure 1, declining toward a frontwall in the form of a plate I3 interposed between a lateral flange I4 ofthe hopper casing and the annular portion 9, and having a semi-circularopening I! at the bottom thereof to permit the discharge of closure capsfrom the hopper casing in an evenly distributed condition. The hoppercasing III and front wall I3 are secured to the annular portion 9 bybolts engaged in the flange I4, front wall I3 and the annular portion 9,as at I9 in Figure 2, with the arcuate portion of the opening I! in linewith the circumference of the opening in the annular portion 9.

The upper end of the standard 9 is arranged with an annular portion ormember II extending in parallel spaced relation with the annular portion9 with the opening in the portion I! of greater diameter than theopening in the portion 9 and said portion I1 having a lateral flange I9extending from the periphery at a right angle to the outer face thereofand about the upper portion of the periphery for approximately 260degrees with the opposite ends equidistantly spaced from the verticalaxis of the annular portion to form a discharge opening I9 in saidannular portion I I. The annular portions 9 and I! are maintained inspaced relation with each other by spacer members 29 secured at one endto ear portions of the annular portion I1 by bolts, as at 2I in Figure1, and the opposite ends secured to similar ear portions of the annularportion 9 by the hopper casing securing bolts I6.

The closure caps C leaving the hopper casing I9 through the opening I5will enter a tapering drum 22 rotatably supported between the annularportions 9, I1 by the smaller end of the drum rotatably engaging anannular flange 29 extending laterally from the inner face of the annularportion 9 adjacent to the central opening of said annular portion toposition said smaller end of the drum in registry with said centralopening of the annular portion 9 and the arcuateportion of the openingI5, and the larger end of the drum being arranged with a lateral flangehaving an angular recess slidably engaging a' corresponding angularrecess in the central opening of the annular portion IT, as at 24 inFigure 2. The inner wall of the drum at the larger end thereof is flaredtoward the outer face of the annular portion I1, as at 25, to have theclosure caps leave the drum at an acute angle to said end of the drum,and the closure caps are agitated in the .drum by a series ofequidistantly spaced ribs 26 'To prevent the drum binding at the endsthereof in the bearing surfaces 23, 24 of the annular portions 9, II,respectively, the lower peripheral portion of the drum is adapted toengage a series of rollers 21 rotatably mounted on studs 29 fixed in andprojecting laterally from the inner faces of the annular portions 9, I1below the bearing surfaces 23, 24.

The closure caps are tumbled about in the drum by the ribs 26 strikingthe closure caps through the rotation of the drum from a source ofpower, such as an electric motor, not shown, which is connected to aperipheral portion of the drum to cause the rotation of the drum withoutsetting up torsional stresses in the structure of the drum or in thebearing surfaces 23', 24. This purpose is accomplished by arranging anannular series of gear teeth 29 around the peripheral portion of thedrum intermediate the ends thereof adapted to mesh with a gear 39 fixedto a stud shaft 3I having the opposite ends rotatably mounted in bearingbosses 32 integral with and extending laterally from the opposed innerfaces of the standards 4, 5 below the annular portions 9, I1 and invertical alinement with the axis of rotation of the drum, said gear 39meshing with a pinion 33 flxed on a shaft 34 rotatably mounted inbearing bosses 35 integral with and extending from the opposed innerfaces of the standards 4, 9 below the bosses 32 and to one side of thevertical axis of the drum, as shown in Figure l, with the end of theshaft 34 supported in the bearing 39 of the standard 4 extending fromthe outer face of said standard for the mounting of a pulley 39 on saidshaft 34 adapted to be engaged by a belt 3'| engaged on a pulley fixedto the shaft of the electric motor.

The closure caps leaving the drum due to the taper and rotation thereofat an angle over the flared portion 25 are positioned to extendsidewardly in an annular passage 39 (Figure 2) formed by the outer faceof the annular portion II, the flange I9 and a disk 39 having a centralhub portion 49 fixedly engaged on an end portion of a shaft 4| rotatabLysupported in an elongated boss 42 integral with and extending centrallyof an arm 43 having right angle end portions extended laterally of thecenter portion of the arm in a direction opposite to the elongated boss42 with one of said end portions terminating in a boss 44 adapted to beengaged by a headed pin 49 mounted in spaced ear portions 49 integralwith and extending laterally from the flange I9 of the annular portionI1 and the outer leg of the opposite right angle end portion of the armbeing bifurcatedfor the engagement of a, hasp pivotally mounted on aportion of the flange I9 diametrically opposite the ear portions andreleasably retained in engagement with the bifurcation of the arm by awing nut, as shown at 41 in Figure 1, whereby the disk 39 may bepositioned out of the annular portion I! to permit inspection andremoval of closure caps from the drum 22 and passage 39. The right angleend portions of the arm 43 are extended from the central portion thereofa distance to abut the outer edge of the flange I9 of the annularportion I1 and position the disk 39 in spaced relation with the flaredend of the drum 22 when the bifurcated end of the arm is engaged by thehasp, as shown in Figure 2. The space between the disk 39 and the outerface of the annular portion I! and the drum is slightly greater than theheight of the closure caps to accommodate said closure caps'in verticalposition, and the diameter of the disk is slightly less than thediameter of the annular portion I! to permit the positioning of the diskwithin the flange I9 to form the passage with the outlet I9 at the lowerportion thereof, as shown in Figure 2.

Rotation of the drum 22 is imparted to the disk 39 by releasablecoupling means comprising a vertical projection in the drum in the formof a pin 49 having screw threads at onev end to engage a screw threadedopening in the wall of the drum intermediate the ends thereof, as at 49in Figure 2, to adapt the opposite end of the pin to be adjustablypositioned in the drum by engaging a manipulating tool in a transverseslot 59 in said screw threaded end of the pin, and said pin is retainedin adjusted position by a locking nut 5i engaged on the portion of thescrew threaded end extending exteriorly of the drum. The pin 49 isengaged by a bifurcated end 51 of a rectangular member 53 having theopposite end of cylindrical form screw threaded to engage a screwthreaded boss in the disk 39 adjacent the periphery thereof, as at 54,and fixedly retained in the disk by a nut 55 engaged on the portion ofsaid screw threaded end projecting from the outer face of the disk topermit engagement of the bifurcated end 52 with the pin 48 when the diskis positioned within the flange l8 in spaced relation with the drum. Thepin 49 and member 59 will be in alinement with each other at all timesas the disk 39 will only be positioned from the drum and out of theflange I9 when the drum and disk are idle and the drum will be heldstationary by the gear 90 and pinion 99.

The closure caps engaged in the annular passage, II will pass throughthe discharge opening l9 by the rotation of the drum and disk and theforce of gravity to a vertical passage or channel formed by the outerface of the standard and a plate 56 of Y shape having the upper portionof arcuate shape to conform to the contour of the periphery of the disk99 and mounted in spaced relation with the face of the standard 5 on theannular portion I1 and standard 5 by bolts 51 engaged in the plate andtriangular portions 59 at the opposite ends of the flange I9 and spacedtriangular bosses 59 on the standard 5 to position the inner face of theplate in alinement with the inner face of the disk 39 andhave thevertical channel of the same width'as the annular channel 99, as shownin Figure 2. There will be a large quantity of closure caps enteringthis ver-- between the opposing vertical sidesof the spaced bosses 59without jamming, there is provided conveyer means constituting the sidewalls of the vertlcal channel and comprising a pair of endless sprocketchains 90 engaged around and supported by pairs of sprocket wheels 9|,92, the wheels 9| being rotatably supported by studs mounted inbearing'bosses in the standard 5 and plate 59, as at 53, adjacent to theportions 59 and the annular channel 98. One of the wheels 62 is fixed onthe shaft 34 which is located adjacent to one of the bosses 59 and theother wheel 92 is supported on a shaft 54 mounted in bearing bosses ofthe standards 4, 5 and the plate 56 adjacent to the other boss 59, sothat the upper stretches of the chains extend in planes tangent to theannular. passage 98, and in converging paths from said I passage 38 toadjacent the space between the bosses 59. The upper stretches of thechains are supported by rails 55 mounted on the outer face of thestandards 5 to engage the inner faces of the chains, and the chains aremaintained in taut condition by rollers 59 rotatably supported by thestandard 5 to engage the outer faces of the lower stretches of thechains, as shown in Figure 1. The shaft 34 is rotated from the source ofpower in a clockwise direction to impart rotation to the drum 22 anddisk 39 in an anti-clockwise direction and move the sprocket chain 50engaged on the sprocket wheel 92 fixed to the shaft 34 in ananti-clockwise direction so that the upper stretch thereof will travelin a direction from the annular channel 99 toward the bosses 59 and urgethe closure caps engaged by said upperstretch toward the space betweenthe bosses 59. The upper stretch of the other sprocket chain 60 isactuated to travel in an upward direction from the bosses 59 toward theannular channel 99 to retard the closure caps engaged thereby travellingtoward the space between the bosses 59 and prevent the jamming ofclosure caps at said space. The actuation of said other chain 50 isaccomplished by a pinion fixed on the shaft 64 meshing with the gear 30on the side of the stud shaft- 3| opposite to the side on which thepinion 33 is located.

The space between the bosses 59 will constitute the discharge outlet ofthe vertical channel of the apparatus of a width slightly greater thanthe diameter of the closure caps to permit the discharge of closure capsin a single column and the side walls thereof or the opposed edges ofthe bosses 59 are arranged with ridges 51 extending centrally andlongitudinally thereof for engaging the flared skirt portions of theclosure caps and prevent the canting and the jamming of the closure capsin said discharge outlet.

The closure caps entering the discharge outlet of the vertical channelof the apparatus are relivered from said apparatus to apparatus foreither assembling sealing pads in the closure caps or applying theclosure caps to receptacles, by a chute having a single channel 69 attheupper end fixed in a recessed portion 69 of the standard 5 (Figure 2)by screws engaged in laterally extending ears ofthe chute, as at 10 inFigure 1, to position the channel 58 in line with the discharge outletof the vertical channel of the apparatus. The lower end of the chute isarranged with a pair of discharge portions II, 12 diverging from thechutechannel 69 in outward arcuate directions and adapted to co-operatewith ridges 13 extending centrally from the opposite side walls of thechute channel 98 in line with the ridges 51 and from the inlet of thechute to the juncture of the diverging discharge portions, so thatclosure caps having the flared skirt portions on the left hand sideofthe ridges 61, 13, looking at Figure 2, will be directed into thedischarge chute portion'l I, and the closure caps having the flaredskirt portions on the right hand side of the ridges 61, I3 will bedirected into the discharge chute portion 12. It should be understoodthat a chute of this character is used when it is desirable-to feedclosure caps to two different or separate apparatus for assemblingsealing pads in the closure caps, and that when it is desirable to feedclosure caps to a single apparatus for either assembling sealing pads inthe closure caps or applying the closure caps to receptacles, a chutehaving a single discharge portion is used.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In closure cap feedingmeans, a hopper casing having a discharge opening, a drum rotatablysupported at the periphery thereof having one the opposite end ofthe'drum, means pivotally mounted on the annular member to have movementtoward and away from the end of the drum opposite the hopper casing, adisk rotatably carried by the pivotally mountedmeans to be positioned inparallel spaced relation to the end of the drum opposite the hoppercasing, means carried by the drum and diskadapted to engage each' otherand connect the drum and disk when the disk is positioned in parallelspaced relation to the end of the drum by the pivotally mounted means,and motive means connected to the drum to impart rotation to the drumand disk when the disk is connected to the drum and position sidewardly. extending closure caps in the space between the drum and disk.

2. Closure cap feeding means as claimed in claim 1. wherein the innerwall of the drum is arranged with a series of rib portions extendinglongitudinally thereof to agitate closure caps in the drum.

3. In closure cap feeding means, a hopper casing having a dischargeopening, a drum rotatably supported at the periphery thereof having oneend in communication with the discharge opening of the hopper casing andarranged with gear teeth extending around the periphery thereof, a fixedannular member disposed about the end of the drum opposite the end incommunication with the discharge opening, a disk rotatably supported bythe annular member and normally positioned in parallel spaced relationwith the end of the drum inthe annular member, means to releasablyconnect the disk to the drum and impart rotation of the drum to thedisk, a gear meshing with the gear teeth of the drum, and motive meansoperatively connected to the gear to impart rotation to the drum andagitate closure caps in the drum and urge closure caps into the spacebetween the drum and disk.

4. In closure cap feeding means, a hopper casing having a dischargeopening, a drum rotatably supported at the periphery thereof with oneend in communication with the discharge opening of the hopper casing, afixed annular member disposed about the end of the drum opposite the endin communication with the discharge opening, an arm pivotally mounted onthe annular member to have movement toward and away from the drum, adisk rotatably carried by the arm to be positioned in parallel spacedrelation with the end of the drum in the annular member, motive meansconnected to and adapted to rotate the drum, 9. projection extendinginwardly from the inner wall of the drum, and a member fixed in andprojecting from the inner face of the disk and having a bifurcatedportion to engage the drum projection when the disk is positioned inparallel spaced relation with the drum to connect the disk to the drumand impart rotation of the drum to the disk.

5. In closure cap feeding means, a hopper the 'end'of the drum in theannular member, conveyer: means mounted adjacent to and on one side ofthe vertical axis of the cut away portion of the annular member andextending in line with the space between the drum and disk, and means torotate the drum and actuate the conveyer means in a direction oppositeto the direction of rotation ofthe drum. I

6. In closure cap feeding means, a hopper cas ing having a dischargeopening, a drum rotatably mounted with one end in communication with thedischarge opening to receive closure caps from the hopper casing, a diskrotatably mounted in parallel spaced relation with the end of the drumopposite to the end in communication with the discharge opening, a chutemounted in vertical alinement with the space between the drum and diskand spaced from the peripheries of the drum and disk. and a pair ofendless chains extending in a converging direction from the spacebetween the drum and disk to the chute.

'7. In closure cap feeding means as claimed in claim 6, a source ofpower operatively connected to the 'drum and the endless chainsto-rotate the drum and actuate the upper stretch ofone chain in adirection away from the space between the drum and disk and actuate theupper stretch of the other chain in a direction toward said space.

8. In closure cap feeding means, a hopper casing having a dischargeopening, a drum rotatably mounted with one end in communication with thedischarge opening to receive closure caps from the hopper casing, afixed annular member disposed about the endo! the drum opposite the endin communication with the discharge opening and having an opening in aperipheral portion thereof below the axis of rotation of. the

I drum, a disk rotatably mounted in the annular member in parallelspaced relation with the drum to form an annular passage with theannular member to receive sidewardly extending closure caps from thedrum, a chute mounted in line with and spaced from the peripheralopening in I the annular member, and a conveyor extending from a portionof said annular passage at one end of the peripheral opening in theannular member to the chute to deliver closure caps from the passage tothe chute.

9. Closure cap feeding means as claimed in claim 8. wherein the conveyorcomprises an endless conveyor chain having the upper stretch extendingin a plane tangentially of the annular passage.

10. In closure cap feeding means, a hopper casing having a dischargeopening for closure caps, a drum rotatably mounted with one end incommunication with the discharge opening to receive closure caps fromthe hopper casing, a standard having an annular portion at the upper endencircling the end of the drum oppo-' site the end in communication withthe discharge opening and having an opening in the periphery thereofadjacent the body portion of the standard, the standard being arrangedto support the hopper casing, a disk rotatably mounted in the annularportion in spaced relation with the end of the drum in the annularportion, a chute mounted on the standard with the inlet of the chute inalinement with and spaced from the peripheral opening in the annularportion, a plate mounted in spaced relation to a face of the standardand extending in the plane of the disk from said disk to the chute, anda conveyor mounted on the standard in the space between the standard andplate and extending from the space between the drum and disk at one endof the peripheral opening in the annular portion to the inlet of thechute to transfer closure caps from said space between the drum and diskto the chute.

11. Closure cap feeding means as claimed in claim 10, wherein theconveyor comprises an endless chain having the upper stretch extendingfrom one end of the peripheral opening in the'annular portion to a sideof the chute inlet.

12. Closure cap feeding means as claimed in claim 10, wherein the chuteis arranged with diverging outlet portions and ridges at the oppositesides extending from the inlet of the chute to said outlet portions toguide closure caps to predetermined outlet portions.

13. In closure cap feeding means as claimed in claim 14), wherein thedrum is arranged with an annular series of gear teeth extending aroundthe periphery thereof, and the conveyor comprises a pair of sprocketwheels and an endless sprocket chain engaged around the sprocket wheels,a source of power, a pinion connected to the source of power and asprocket wheel of the pair of sprocket wheels, a gear meshing with thegear teeth of the drum and the pinion.

14. In closure cap feeding means, a pair of annular members mounted inparallel spaced relation to each other, a hopper casing having adischarge opening and mounted on the outer face of one of said annularmembers with the discharge opening in communication with the opening insaid annular member, a drum rotatably supported at the opposite ends bythe annular members and adapted to receive closure caps from the hoppercasing, a disk rotatably supported in the annular member spaced from thehopper casing in spaced relation with the end of the drum to form achannel with said annular member to receive closure caps from the drum,power means operatively connected to the drum to rotate the same, andmeans to connect the disk to the drum and impart rotation of the drum todisk.

15. In closure cap feeding means as claimed in claim 14, gear teetharranged on the exterior of the drum between the opposite ends thereof,and a gear rotatably supported by the annular members meshing with thegear teeth on the drum and operatively connected to the power means.

16. In closure cap feeding means as claimed in claim 14, a series ofrollers rotatably mounted on the inner faces of the annular members andextending around the periphery of the drum.

17. In closure cap feeding means. a hopper casing having a dischargeopening, a drum rtatably mounted with one end in communication with thedischarge opening to receive closure caps from the hopper casing, a diskrotatably mounted in spaced relation with the end of the drum oppositeto the end communicating with the discharge opening, an annular memberof angular shape in cross section mounted with one angle portionencircling the drum and the other angle portion having an openingtherein below the axis of rotation of the drum and disk and theremaining section thereof encircling the disk to form a channeltherewith for sidewardly extending closure caps received from the drum,a'vertical channel extending from the opening in the angle portion ofthe annular member, a chute in communication with the lower portion ofthe vertical channel, and apair of endless chains mounted along theopposite sides of the vertical channel and extending from the oppositeends of the opening in the angle portion of the annular member to theinlet of the chute, one chain transferring closure caps from the channelformed by the annular member and disk through the vertical channel tothe chute, and the other chain retarding the movement of the closurecaps toward the chute.

18. In closure cap feeding means as claimed in claim 17, means tosimultaneously rotate the drum and actuate the chains.

19. In closure cap feeding means as claimed in claim 17, means toconnect the drum and disk, and a source of power operatively connectedto the drum and the chains.

JOHN A. JOHNSON.

